The Nigerian Army on Tuesday claimed that two deputies of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, were killed during a military operation at Alafa in Borno on Sallah day.

Disclosing this in a statement, Army spokesman, Sani Usman, said the two deputies killed were Afdu Kawuri and Abubakar Banishek, adding that five other key leaders of the group and close associates of Mr. Shekau were neutralised in another operation in August.

“This is in addition to Ba’Abba Ibrahim and two other Boko Haram commanders that died after sustaining injuries during their last ambush at Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno,” Usman said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the Army dismissed as rubbish, the latest video circulated by the sect’s deadly leader in which he taunted the Army. The Nigerian Army described the video as a desperation and lies by remnants of the insurgents to instil unnecessary fear in law abiding citizens.

The sect, had in the video denied the killing of its five key commanders as claimed by the army, boasting that it rather had a wonderful Sallah celebration in the Sambisa forest.

But reacting to the video, Usman dared the sect to produce the five commanders if they were still alive.

He said: “We wish to challenge the so-called terrorist leader to produce the five key commanders earlier killed or the video of those Ameers he claimed not dead and are still with him.

“It is also instructive to note that Shekau is scared and rattled by the 40-day ultimatum issued by the Chief of Army Staff to Operation LAFIYA DOLE to fish him out.”